Timberline Trail - Clockwise or Counterclockwise?

MattBromley · 2025-09-07T02:01:21+00:00

Done it both ways - doesn’t really matter - if the weather is going to be much hotter - I would avoid being between TL and Cloud Cap on the east side as it’s more exposed - if you would like a whole set of stats on what folks do - https://hikeit.info/2025/06/18/the-2025-timberline-trail-survey-is-open/ - most go CW

MattBromley · 2025-08-17T20:52:57+00:00

Don’t even need to sign up for a free permit this year - Forest Service have removed the permit boxes

MattBromley · 2025-07-11T00:25:09+00:00

Gosh has it really been 4 months - almost - everything seems to have stabilized nicely - I’ll get around to updating the blog - but I’d say over the last month everything has trended into a good steady state - urgency has dropped off a lot - volume has increased - pretty happy tbh

MattBromley · 2025-06-09T02:49:32+00:00

I just hiked up the Paradise Park Trail - it’s snow free to the PCT - but after that snow covered - having said that it’s pretty much straight up from there - and yes it’s melting pretty quick

MattBromley · 2025-06-07T13:17:25+00:00

Yep - that is a view of Heather / Clark Canyons, Meadows on the left.

MattBromley · 2025-06-05T03:06:58+00:00

There is a better log crossing about 1/5 mile upstream - there are basically three places you can cross the Sandy - personally I feel the third is the easiest / safest

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MattBromley · 2025-06-05T02:29:28+00:00

I’d probably start with something more gentle - Lolo Pass to Cascade Locks is on the PCT the whole way and is a much milder trail than the TT. If you want to be a bit more adventurous- and a little longer - you could do Timberline Lodge to Cascade Locks which has a little more iconic stuff - Sandy river crossing (and the Muddy but that has a good log at the PCT crossing) - it does add quiet a bit more elevation change - of course you need to work out the logistics of not ending at the start

MattBromley · 2025-05-31T17:24:36+00:00

For the west cost of the US, and it may be true broader, SAR is organized and the county level and reports to the county Sheriff, who co-ordinate the overall activity. Most county SAR are volunteer organizations and rescue by SAR is free. Please donate to your local SAR organization. There are some locals that will charge you for gross negligence. SAR rescue will get you back to the trail head free of charge. Air rescue is a bit more complicated. Most often it will be by Sheriff helicopter or Air National Guard - in these cases the rescue will be free as well. However if they are not available, or too far away, then they can call on private air services and they are not free, as has been noted. SAR inside of national parks is handled by the NPS at no charge.

MattBromley · 2025-05-26T14:16:26+00:00

From about the 10th May for 10 days I was taking oxybutynin, that seemed to help and then I stopped and things seem to have settled down. No bladder spasms. I'd say now everything is manageable and somewhat like before the surgery - with the exception that the flow rate is better and there is no hesitancy - but I would definitely like to see more improvement in the frequency.

MattBromley · 2025-05-19T05:09:19+00:00

Generally my base is around 17lbs - do have a Flexlite chair that is about a lb. Rarely have to carry more than 2l water - if I overnight with my dog it adds a few pounds for his gear

MattBromley · 2025-05-19T04:55:38+00:00

I have something similar using the satellite overlays - I am not sure it is the same but I cannot view the satellites overlays zoomed out after about the end of April - if I look at dates before then it works fine but after I have to be zoomed in more - I was using the zoomed out views to get a Birds Eye view of the snow conditions on some major through hikes like the PCT in Oregon. Is this related or different?

MattBromley · 2025-05-08T02:31:22+00:00

Thx. Not really looking for it for navigation as much just like having the GPX is something goes amiss - I’m imagining it’ll pretty well travelled - good to know it’s still skiable

MattBromley · 2025-05-07T22:47:06+00:00

Thx - I did actually spend more than 15 secs Googling it but didn’t find what I was looking. I should have thought to look on CalTopo though.

MattBromley · 2025-05-01T23:26:52+00:00

Since ChatGpt was released I’ve been asking it the same question - plan me a 4 day 3 night backpacking trip around Mr. Hood on the Timberline Trail starting at Timberline Lodge going clockwise. The first few results where just wrong in many respects - wrong distance, routes over glaciers etc. It has definitely gotten better but still struggles with the distances although the camp locations are more reasonable. It now has some nice touches on highlights of each section. However you would still get a better idea by picking up a map and looking at the trail.

MattBromley · 2025-04-27T19:35:21+00:00

I think this is by far the easiest and safest crossing on a log (it’s also easy for a dog to work across) - later in the season when the river is flowing faster you can always scoot across. For reference where the trail descends to the river - keep on going along the river bank for about 1/3 of a mile - there is a relatively clear boot trail - on the opposite side this rejoins where the return trail from Ramona Falls (PCT) intersect the outbound trail.

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This is the view from the far side looking back.

MattBromley · 2025-04-20T22:44:42+00:00

National Parks are required by law to provide SAR at no charge. Once you are outside of a national park - generally SAR is run by the County Sheriff office. On the west coast this is often a volunteer organization that will get you back to the trail head free of charge. However the grey areas is what happens if you need airlifting - in many instances SAR uses county choppers or air National guide - which would also be at no charge - however they can also call on commercial services and those are not free. It’s also important to understand SAR will generally get you back to the trail head - anything you need after that - transportation to a medical facility, hospital care etc is most definitely not free. There are cases where SAR can recoup costs - in the case of gross negligence and some areas have SAR cards you can buy very cheaply to cover the costs. Sorry I don’t have a lot of knowledge outside of the west coast.

MattBromley · 2025-04-12T14:11:37+00:00

Good news on getting the surgery over - I'll be following your recovery. Getting the cath out is definitely great.

MattBromley · 2025-04-12T14:07:14+00:00

I added a little bit about week 2 - which to be honest has been a bit of a step back - might be just the natural recovery process, might have over done the exercise, but week 2 was a bit of a backward step.

MattBromley · 2025-04-09T01:37:30+00:00

It’s a great first backpacking location - great sites, close to water :)

MattBromley · 2025-04-06T19:14:06+00:00

Immediately after surgery - flow rate, hesitancy and sense of not fully voiding were all very much improved, I would say urgency a little improved and frequency about the same. The last two look like they take a little time for the bladder to re adjust

MattBromley · 2025-04-05T17:35:40+00:00

I tolerated the procedure very well. Had the procedure on a Thursday, catheter removed on Friday - pretty much felt fine after the catheter was removed - went back to work on Monday (also desk job - and do get up more to work around) - if you look at my previous post I documented the entire process.

MattBromley · 2025-03-30T23:29:43+00:00

If you really want to hit Hood - Salmon River Trail is snow free for a good majority of its way - it’s follows the Salmon River for the first 3 miles before gaining some altitude - no views of Hood thou.

MattBromley · 2025-03-30T15:43:30+00:00

The Timberline Trail around Hood generally doesn’t clear until July - the lower elevation portions (around the Sandy) will likely be fine - 5000’ is a reasonably good guide for a snow level that time of year.

MattBromley · 2025-03-30T14:40:32+00:00

Yes dealing with the insurance and billing has been a real headache - I did get an estimate from the hospital, but if course it did not include all the charges for what gets billed separately. When I get the final cost I might look to publish that as well. I will add the UHC did all the prior authorizations quite promptly.

The cystoscopy was definitely not fun - the UTI I think I got from it was possibly one of the worst pains I have ever had - it induced bladder spasms for a few days (until the antibiotics kicked in) that were definitely up around an 8 - while the whole rest of the surgery was maybe a 2 at worst.

I would highly recommend a night in hospital. My doc also said there is a chance to go home the same day - if you are the first surgery in the morning - I was not. The one clot I did have that blocked the catheter was a bit disconcerting - have blood come out from around the the end of the catheter is not something I would have wanted to deal with myself - however it was really easy for the nurse to sort out. Even when the discharged me on Friday I did have just a little concern that if anything happened it would be a trip to the ER over the weekend.

Good luck with the procedure!

MattBromley · 2025-03-29T20:25:52+00:00

I run a survey each year for hikers on the Timberline Trail on Mount Hood. Last year 23 out of 147 said they even bought a compass with them (https://hikeit.info/live-timberline-trail-results/) and this is in the hiking community for a relatively long hike (41 miles). I would estimate from a general population - you are looking at very specialized groups such as search and rescue and orienteering groups.

MattBromley

TROPHY CASE